The University of Iowa Police recently appointed two new associate directors and promoted two other officers to lieutenant to assist in the operation of the Department of Public Safety.

The newly appointed associate directors are Williams Searls and David Visin. They will join Lawrence Langley, who received his appointment as an associate director in October. The new lieutenants are Loren Noska and Shawn Sharp.

Langley was the department captain until receiving his promotion to associate director in October 2005. Langley worked as an officer for the Coralville Police Department as well as an officer and sergeant for the UI Police Division. As captain, he was in charge of investigations. He has been assigned to command the Police Division among other duties. He is a graduate of the UI.

Searls is a native of Iowa City who attended West High School and graduated from the UI with a degree in sociology. He worked in the UI's Athletic Department and at Health Protection Office. After graduating, he joined the Coralville Police Department and retired in October 2005 as a sergeant with more than 17 years of experience. He has been assigned to command the Investigations and Security Divisions.

Visin began his career with the Department of Public Safety in 1987 as a student guard. Since that time he rose through the ranks, most recently as a lieutenant with the UI police, and graduated from the University with a bachelor of science degree in economics. During his career he became a women's self-defense instructor, regional director for Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) Systems, and was certified as a computer forensics expert. He has headed football operations for the university police for the past two years and managed several federal grant programs. He has been assigned to command the Records and Communications Divisions, as well as handle information technology and special events.

Noska and Sharp were promoted to the rank of lieutenant in January 2006. Noska began his career with the Department of Public Safety in 1989. He is a certified Bike Patrol officer and will now be in charge of the day shift.

Sharp began working with the Department of Public Safety in 1995. He is a certified Drug Recognition Expert instructor and recently headed Iowa's Drug Recognition Expert class. He is also a R.A.D. and firearms instructor. His permanent command assignment is pending.